NGT transfers petitions on oil spill to Southern Bench

The National Green Tribunal has transferred to its Southern Bench two pleas seeking compensation to people affected by the recent oil spill off the coast of Tamil Nadu and seizure of the vessels involved in collision.

The Principal Bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter, on Tuesday noted that a similar plea was already pending with the Southern Bench.

``We would have considered it but the Southern Bench has already taken cognisance of the matter and the issue is pending before it,” the bench said, adding it would not be appropriate for it to interfere in it. “These petitions are transferred to the Southern Bench and are listed there for February 20,’’ the bench said.

The petitions have sought constitution of an expert committee to oversee and monitor the entire clean-up process and assess the damage caused to the environment.

“The fish and all the other aquatic animals have become victims of the widespread disaster caused by the two vessels as a result of their negligence,” the plea filed by Ashwini Kumar through advocate Sumeer Sodhi said.

In another plea, the counsel has sought a direction to the authorities to follow national and international protocol in dealing with the disaster.

The petitions have also made parties the owners of the offending ships, including Gurgaon-based Tokio Marine Holdings Inc.

The collision led to a massive spill of hazardous oil and LPG near the shoreline.